Tradition Showdown

Marquette, SHG set to battle for state berth

Marquette’s Nick LaFata (1) celebrates a goal earlier this season. he and his teammates will take on Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin in a Class 1A Super-Sectional game Tuesday at Raymond Lincolnwood.

Nathan Woodside | For the Telegraph

ALTON — Facing a team with a rich soccer tradition with a berth at the state semifinals puts a unique spotlight on Tuesday night’s 1A super-sectional game between Marquette Catholic and Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin.

What makes the showdown in the Raymond Lincolnwood Super-Sectional even more unusual is that each team faces the same situation. The Catholic schools, which each have a rich soccer background, are scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. at Lincolnwood.

At stake Tuesday will be a semifinal berth at the Class 1A State Finals at Eastside Centre in East Peoria. The winner at Lincolnwood will play at 5 p.m. on Friday against the winner of the Lincoln-Way East Super-Sectional.

Marquette won the 2011 1A state championship, while SHG won Class A state championships in 1998 and 200 and had a runner-up finish in 2008.

The Explorers (14-6-3) head into Tuesday’s game on the heels of a 2-1 victory over Belleville Althoff in the final of the Freeburg Sectional Tournament. SHG outlasted Beardstown 3-2 in overtime to win the Macon Sectional.

While the Cyclones’ 12-13 record may not have a fancy shine, Burchett said not to be misled.

“(SHG) plays a tough schedule and you know they have to be good to get this far. We have the utmost respect for them.”

SHG had to pull put a nailbiter against Beardstown.The teams were tied 1-1 after regulation, but the Cyclones got a pair of goals from sophomore Matt Ray early in the first of two 10-minute overtimes. Beardstown rallied for a goal in the second overtime, but SHG held on for the victory and its first sectional championships since 2008. That year, the Cyclones went on to finish second in the Class 2A state tournament.

Burchett has been doing some lineup juggling in his mind since Friday’s sectional final win. He needs to come up with a formation that doesn’t include Aaron Boulch.

Boulch, the Explorers’ leading scorer with 18 goals and 14 assists will not be available to play Tuesday. He received a pair of yellow cards Friday, meaning he was ejected from that game and must sit out the next one.

“It’s definitely not the ideal situation,” Burchett said. “He’s not the kind of player you can replace easily. But we have some options. A lot of it will depend on what I see from (SHG) early on. We’ll deal with it.”

Aside from Boulch, the Explorer’ top scorers are Christ Hartrich with 10 goals and 11 assists, Trenton Dietiker with 11 goals and seven assists, Noah Fahnestock with seven goals and eight assists, and Noah McClintock with seven goals and four assists.

The Cyclones’ defense has allowed 62 goals on the season, but just six in their last five games – all in the postseason. Losses during the regular season for SHG included a 4-1 decision to Alton High, a 3-0 loss to Jacksonville, a 2-1 setback to Granite City and an 8-0 loss to Quincy Notre Dame.

“Comparing scores is tricky and dangerous,” Burchett said. “Nothing (SHG) has done prior to this and nothing we have done makes any difference. It’s all about how well you play come Tuesday night.

“We had a good practice (Monday),” he said. “The boys are relaxed, but they are focused.”

Marquette’s Nick LaFata (1) celebrates a goal earlier this season. he and his teammates will take on Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin in a Class 1A Super-Sectional game Tuesday at Raymond Lincolnwood.

http://www.thetelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_1024MarqSocADVMAINPIC.jpgMarquette’s Nick LaFata (1) celebrates a goal earlier this season. he and his teammates will take on Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin in a Class 1A Super-Sectional game Tuesday at Raymond Lincolnwood. Nathan Woodside | For the Telegraph